Category: Walmart

New Walmart Set to Open Next Week

Spring is in the air, can’t you smell it? Flowers are getting ready to boom, the weather is warming (wait, did it ever cool off?) and there is a new Walmart opening in Panama City Beach. Nope, they aren’t replacing the old Walmart, this will be in addition to the other Walmart, colloquially referred to as “The Beach Walmart.”

I swear I had found some article substantiating a claim that the Beach Walmart was the highest in volume sales nationally for Walmart Corp, but I can’t find it now, so maybe that was all a dream. But, General Manager Jennifer Ross (the Beach Walmart’s former GM and the new GM at the Pier Park Walmart) mentioned that possibly the claim I was referring to was total in beer and liquor volume sales.

Last week I had the opportunity to tour the new Walmart with Store Manager Jennifer Ross.  A firm opening date will be announced this week, but Ross expects they’ll be ready to open next week.

Let’s talk about what’s different.

The big question everyone has had about this new Walmart is what the difference is between it and the existing Walmart. With the existing Walmart ringing in at around 220,000 square feet, the new Walmart is about 70% of that size, just over 156,000 square feet. Naturally, one would think the new Walmart is smaller than the other one, offering less of a selection, but there are a few things that the new Walmart doesn’t have that accounts for that lost square footage.

One huge component the new Walmart doesn’t have, that accounts for a large amount of the square footage difference is the Tire and Lube center. Additionally, there is almost no tenant space in the new Walmart, with the exception of a Subway and Airbrush. The Beach Walmart has an Eye Center, Nail Salon and other tenant space at the front of the store.

Walking around the inside of the store, it really feels every bit as large as the other Beach Walmart.

Other things that are new to this Walmart.

One of the things I love about the new Walmart is that they kept the exterior design completely consistent with that of Pier Park.  We’d been seeing signs of this all along, but it was something, as a community, I’ve heard concern of.

  • Implementation of sustainability features, including
    • Freezer motion sensor lights
    • Cycling overhead lights
    • Energy efficient refrigeration
    • Concrete floors
    • Recycled composite counters that look like granite
  • All touch-screen registers
  • Bull-pen style self check-out with 8 registers
  • Drive-through pharmacy
  • A/C ducts for Outdoor Center cashiers
  • Big Ass Fans in Outdoor Center (you’ll just have to go see them, that’s really their name)

Right now they’re looking to hire about 50 more people for the season claiming they’ll employ about 250 people seasonally and 250 people normally the rest of the year.

Economically, this is pretty huge. This one installment literally added over 200 jobs locally and will definitely supplement the city’s tax revenue bucket offing a diversified shopping opportunity for travelers on the west end of Panama City Beach.

Photos

Pier Park Walmart Still Hiring

If you’re looking for a job, the new Pier Park Walmart that is set to open this spring is still hiring. Having advertised that they had approximately 200 positions open and ready to hire for various positions, they’ve made quick progress in snapping up those unemployed or those wanting to change their job paths.

“We are hiring both full- and part-time associates,” said store manager Jennifer Ross. “Walmart provides good jobs with opportunities for career growth, and we look forward to talking with candidates who are interested in joining our store’s team.” Ross began her Walmart career as a part-time cashier in 1996 at a store in Montgomery, Ala.

“Approximately half the store’s positions have been filled since our hiring center opened December 26th, which means we still have openings for about 100 associates,” said store manager Jennifer Ross. “Those openings include positions for all shifts, as well as some supervisory positions.”

Walmart’s benefit program is available to eligible full- and part-time associates and provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including health-care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

The hiring center opened Wednesday, Dec. 26, and interested applicants can stop by during the center’s hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applicants can also apply online at careers.walmart.com.

Walmart Hiring Center

17208 Panama City Beach Parkway

Panama City Beach, Fla.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pier Park North Land Clearing has Begun!

Driving down Back Beach Road (Panama City Beach Parkway or US 98) last week you could smell the fresh scent of pine in the air as logging crews harvested the pine forrest located where the new Pier Park North mall will be located. In fact, by Wednesday, most of the trees were gone and crews are expected to begin de-stumping the ground this week.

Here is a panoramic shot of the site as of Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

Having just reported on the [so far] up to date list of stores coming to the development, we’ve had quite a few chime in on their suggestions on the stores that should be included in this development. There was some initial speculation in the recent past on whether this development was even a reality.  Of course, with the buzz of Pier Park North, began the buzz of a new Walmart in Panama City Beach that is getting nearer to completion every day.  Some commenters have confirmed that it is indeed going to be a Super Walmart.

What do you think of the new Walmart development and the development of Pier Park North?

Powell Adams Road CRA Treatment Begun (Pier Park)

The new road way that’s accompanying the new Walmart is beginning to materialize. If you remember, concurrent with the new Walmart in Panama City Beach next to Pier Park, Powell Adams road is getting the same treatment as the CRA reconstructed roadways found elsewhere on the beach. Wow, that was a mouthful.

The new roadway will be four lanes with a curbed median and a traffic signal at the Pamama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road) intersection. There will be sidewalks, street lights and all underground utilities.

To get an example of what we can expect this to look like upon completion, click here.

This will be an exceptionally nice additional entrance experience for Pier Park.

Pictures.

I know it doesn’t seem like much to look at now, but what you do see is the beginnings of something that will be very beautiful.  If you’ve seen what they’ve done in the other CRA areas, you know this will be a much needed transformation of a very heavily used road right next to what some have begun to call “downtown Panama City Beach.”

Over the coming months, the vantage point of which these photos were taken will change dramatically.

To the right of this shot is the Walmart building, and to the left is Target.  That roadway on the left is the existing Powell Adams roadway.

This shot is facing south with Walmart to the left and Target to the right.

Will the New Walmart be a Super Walmart? [Construction Update]

The new Walmart next to Pier Park in Panama City Beach is taking serious shape. Having been under construction for mere months, you can absolutely see the beginning signs of just what type of Walmart this is going to be.

I’m not one to ignite or fuel rumor-mill, but its been going around that this will indeed be a Super Walmart. I’ve found nothing official to note this but as the building shell is complete, it sure looks that it will indeed be a Super Walmart.

Is this a Super Walmart?

In South Walton, there is a Walmart neighborhood store. Think Walmart, only on a miniature scale. They have a lot of the things normal Walmarts have, but not as much, and there is grocery.

Original speculation discussed the new Walmart as being a neighborhood store as pundits insisted Walmart couldn’t justify two equally competitive stores in the same tax area. Plus the submitted plans specify that the new store is indeed smaller than the original Panama City Beach Walmart.

However, in the last couple weeks the store structure has taken enough shape to offer more clear speculation on what we can expect at this new Walmart.

Mayor Gayle Oberst has been known to say, “Panama City Beach, the only town with a population of 12,000 that has two super Walmarts.”

The photo evidence.

This first photo, taken from the front, closest to Pier Park clearly shows two entrances.  The smaller, neighborhood stores only offer one entrance.

The second photo is taken from the front on the side furthest from Pier Park. From this view you can clearly see the large bay openings found in their lube centers for servicing vehicles.

Here are a variety of other shots to give you an idea of the progress. I’d say barring any weather issues, they’re still on schedule.

This shot is a closer look at the lube bay where they can service cars.  It’s hard to tell at this point, but it looks as though the automobiles would come in from the left, entering on the wall that is facing to the left of the image.

This is a shot from the inside taken towards the south west.  I didn’t get permission for this and sort of snuck up there – hope I don’t get in trouble!  You can’t really see anything here short of the vastness of the inside of this new Walmart in Panama City Beach.

This is taken facing the southwest and shows the easterly-most entrance.

This is another view of the lube bay area, across the stormwater retention pond.

This shot was taken from the southwest (facing northeast) side of the building.  There is a large solid concreate area, I assume would be for staging semi delivery trucks.  I believe there are four bays for tractor trailers.